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Wednesday, 31 August 2011

As the one of the Great Protectors of the Aztec nation, the god Quetzalcóatl shared a peculiar bond with his people. An exiled god, it was foretold that one day, ﻿Quetzalcóatl would triumphantly return from a distant land and lead his people in a new age of glory on Earth. The story of Quetzalcóatl stands apart from a great many of the myths of the world, in that it had a direct and profound influence upon the course of history. For on the 8th of November 1519, the catastrophic misinterpretation of this legend would spell the doom of the Aztecs. But what had lead to this?

The Mask of Tezcatlipoca
Artifact in the British Museum

Though he had been one of the gods which had helped create the world, Tezcatlipoca, the Lord of the Smoking Mirror, slowly began to reveal a streak of deep cruelty. The dark god possessed a magical mirror of obsidian, which reflected the deepest fears in men's hearts, as well as offering its bearer visions of the future. Though the god saw famine and natural disaster before they struck, he deliberately concealed this information from his people, delighting in their misery, and particularly in the resulting anguish of the most adored of the ruling gods - Quetzalcóatl - The Plumed Serpent. Though both gods had fought alongside one another against the great monster Tlaltecuhtli (for more on this and the creation, please click here), and Tezcatlopica had even sacrificed his own foot in the battle, tensions and mistrust began to build. The first to introduce war to the human world, Tezcatlipoca revelled in bloodshed for its own sake, deciding who should live and who should die on the mortal plain of battle.

Tollán (modern Tula)

Photograph taken by 'Luidger'

Quetzalcóatl, on the other hand, ruled as a living god king over the great city of Tollán, stronghold and crowning jewel of the Toltec people. The Toltecs prospered under his noble guidance, and the world was happy. Tezcatlipoca, however, was not. A skilled shapeshifter however, the dark god came to a great feast one night in Tollán, and deceived the King, switching his goblet for one filled with an extremely poweful drug. Oblivious, Quetzalcóatl drank from his goblet, eagerly partaking in the night's festivities. Soon inebriated, Quetzalcóatl began to behave most strangely. The people looked on in horror and disgust as their King seduced his own sister. The cries of outrage suddenly broke the spell, and Quetzalcóatl regained control of his senses. Still unaware that the scheme had been Tezcatlipoca's, Quetzalcóatl stood in disbelief at how he could have let himself become so drunk. Ashamed to the core at what he had done, the King left the hall, to the shouts of anger of his deceived subjects. The next morning, stricken with grief and frustration, Quetzalcóatl arose to devastating news. Playing on the events of the previous eve, Tezcatlipoca had roused the people against their King, his words of malice seizing upon the impulses of a mob. Realising the true extent of Tezcatlipoca's treachery at last, Quetzalcóatl's frustration turned to rage, and his wrath was terrible. Tollán burned, the mountains quaked, statues toppled and the fruits of the city's civilisation were buried under the Earth. The furious god commanded the magnificent bird which laired in the city to depart the land and not to return. Tollán's hour of greatness had reached an end.

The Sierra Nevada of Mexico
Photograph taken by David Tuggy

Leaving the blasted lands, Quetzalcóatl assembled what remained of his loyal guards and ventured forth into the wilderness. Soon, Quetzalcóatl began to feel grief again. Destroying Tollán had brought him peace, but carried it further from him. After many hours on the road, the exhausted god came to rest at Quauhtitlán. Quetzalcóatl asked his servant to hand him a mirror, and the servant gave the King a polished, reflective obsidian mirror. Quetzalcóatl looked on at his reflection, and saw a broken, elderly face stare back up at him. "I grow old", the god spoke softly. The servants began to weep, mourning the brevity of greatness in the mortal world, that all things, even their great city and King, must all one day end. For behind every glimmer of light, the shadow of Tezcatlipoca lurks. The dejected procession marched onward into the mountains, though stopping as Quetzalcóatl's exhaustion grew. When the god and his servants reached Coaapán, however, an array of deities soared down to the Earth from the high Heavens and surrounded Quetzalcóatl. The gods interrogated the weary traveller, demanding to know where he ventured and why. Quetzalcóatl boldly answered that he was leaving these shores for the land of Tlapallán, the far away realm of his father the sun god, over the distant Oceans, for he had no purpose here any longer, and his ancestral domain called him home. Taking pity on Quetzalcóatl, the gods allowed him to pass, though ordered him to relinquish the divine secrets of his powers, the powers that had allowed him to raise Tollán to such vast heights of human achievement. The arcane magic he wielded would allow any to raise humanity to its former glory. Mistrusting all other gods now due to Tezcatlipoca's treachery, Quetzalcóatl refused, and cast all the records of his secrets into a nearby fountain, where the thundering waters obliterated all trace. Heading further east, Quetzalcóatl continued undaunted along his march of shame.

Mount Popocatépetl

Photograph taken by Alejandro Garcia

The god and his procession pushed on deeper and deeper into the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The ice and snow drifts began to close in, and the frozen wastes bore no fruit. Higher and higher they rose, and one by one, the sheer cold began to claim the life of Quetzalcóatl's servants. At last, only the Plumed Serpent himself remained. Fighting through the deep snow, Quetzalcóatl began a song of exquisite beauty, mourning all those that died with him. Reaching the summit of the volcano, he slid down the far side, coming at last to the Eastern Ocean. Attracted by his enchanting song, all the serpents of the region were drawn to their Plumed Master. As if by preordained command, the serpents twisted and writhed, and coiled within and around each other, creating a raft of their living flesh. Without a backward look, Quetzalcóatl boarded his serpentine craft, and with his eyes fixed on the horizon of the rising Sun, departed the land of Mexico. The Aztec peoples await his return, when he will appear on the horizon of the Eastern Ocean once again, in all his rightful, regal glory, and his secrets will lead them to a new era of mastery over the Earth.

Many eons later, the Aztecs remained as faithful as ever, awaiting their great deliverer. So when the year 1519 anno domini arrived, and the time came when a stranger from a far away land arrived on the horizon of the Eastern Ocean, the Aztecs were jubilant. Unfortunately, this stranger's name was not Quetzalcóatl, but Hernan Cortés...

(A very nice introduction to Aztec and Mayan Mythology, which I found very useful a few years back. Due to the vast nature of the subject, such a book is always helpful in the beginning. The actual front cover is different from the one displayed on Amazon, and the book itself has many high quality photographs in it)

(A very nice introduction to Aztec and Mayan Mythology, which I found very useful a few years back. Due to the vast nature of the subject, such a book is always helpful in the beginning. The actual front cover is different from the one displayed on Amazon, and the book itself has many high quality photographs in it)

Wednesday, 24 August 2011

Having conquered some of the mightiest beasts to walk the earth, and weary from years of toil, it was with bewilderment that Heracles pondered what could possibly come next, on his long journey to immortality. Slaying the Lion of Nemea, the Hydra of Lernaea, the Birds of Stymphalos, capturing the Hind of Cerynaia, the Boar of Erymanthos, the Bull of Crete and the carnivorous Mares of Diomedes, and cleaning the vile stables of King Augeias, the list of Heracles' achievements was already impressive (for the previous episode in this sage, please click here). Eight down, just four more tasks stood between the son of Zeus and his place on Mount Olympus itself.

The Amazons

Painting by Theodor Baierl.

Free of the diabolical horses that had slain his friend, Heracles came before King Eurystheus once again in his strong walled citadel of Tiryns. Growing desperate, Eurystheus agonised to discover some feat that would beyond even the son of Zeus. Deciding to begin sending the hero far beyond the borderlands of Greece, the King began to grow ever more ambitious in his schemes. For his next Labour, Eurystheus charged Heracles to seek out the Girdle of Hippolyta, and bring it to him. But neither Girdle nor lady was ordinary. For Hippolyta was the Queen of the Amazons, a feared race from the distant steppes of Sarmatia. The Amazons, a tribe of entirely women, could not have been more different from the women of Greece. Largely hidden from public view, and guardians of the household, the women of Greece contrasted violently with the fierce warrior women that were the Amazons. Training constantly in the arts of war, women of the Amazon tribe were forbidden to marry until they had slain a man in war. It was even rumoured that Amazon women ritually severed their right breast so as not to hinder their use of the javelin and the bow. Hippolyta had been presented with her magic Girdle by Ares, the war god himself. It was with a large company of armed men that Heracles set forth from mighty Tiryns this time. After a long voyage across the Oceans, sailing beyond the Aegean to the farthest reaches of the Black Sea, the son of Zeus made landfall upon the beaches of Themiscyra. The Amazons were already there, along with their Queen. The legend of Heracles defeat of so many beasts however, appeared to have spread. Respectful of the hero's prowess, Hippolyta received Heracles kindly, approaching him directly on the beach. Charmed by his might, Hippolyta even agreed to hand over her Girdle, much to Heracles delight. The rest of the Amazons, however, further up the beach, watched intently, unsure of what was transpiring. Far away, on the heights of Mount Olympus, Hera, Queen of the Gods, looked on in fury that Heracles had succeeded so easily. Soaring down to the Earth, the goddess took the form of an Amazon maiden. Walking amongst the fierce women, she suddenly cried out that Heracles had come to abduct their Queen, and brought only death. Confusion rippled through both sides. The Amazons remembered all too well how another Greek hero had once abducted their Queen, and seized their arms and hurled themselves upon Heracles and his kin. Heracles, utterly confused, believed Hippolyta's approach to have been a ruse all along, violently turned upon the Queen. Delighted at the chaos she had caused, Hera returned to the Heavens to watch events unfold. Taken aback by the ferocity of the Amazons, Greeks began to fall one by one. In his rage, Heracles turned his arms upon the Amazon Queen, brutally slaying her, and tearing the Girdle from her lifeless form. Raising his war cry, the son of Zeus slammed into the Amazon ranks. Cowed by such a formidable opponent, the Amazons fled before his rampage. Seizing their chance, the battered and bloodied surviving Greeks desperately pushed away from the shore.

Heracles and Geryon
Image from a 6th century BC Etruscan vase.

Limping back to Tiryns, the Greek party returned to Eurystheus, and Heracles handed over the Girdle. Relieved to see that the hero was not completely invincible yet, the King at once issued forth a new challenge. Eurystheus commanded Heracles to bring to him the cattle of Geryon from the island of Erytheia. Far away at the mouth of edges of the Ocean, Erytheia lay off the coast of the Southern tip of Iberia. Travelling across Europe, and crossing to Africa, Heracles began the long journey through the deserts of Libya. Beaten down by the burning heat of the Sun, in frustration, the son of Zeus fired an arrow at the Sun itself. So impressed at his audacity, the Sun god himself came before Heracles and offered to speed him on his way, granting him a special vessel. Eventually reaching the boundaries of the known world, Heracles marked this achievement by raising two monumental pillars, one on the most southerly plateau in Iberia, and the other on the most northerly plateau in Africa. The 'Pillars of Hercules' still stand today, guarding the pass from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. Coming to Geryon's domain, the hero's presence was at once detected by Orthus, the guardian of Geryon's cattle. Being a monstrous, two headed dog, and one of the dread offspring of Typhon and Echidna (for more on these, the most fearsome monsters on Greek Mythology, please click here), Orthus was no ordinary shepherding dog. A demonic hound, Orthus charged Heracles down on sight. Drawing his mighty club, Heracles managed to bring Orthus down with a mighty strike to the beast's two skulls. More herdsmen came, attracted by the din of fighting. Slaying them all, Heracles found the cattle and seized them, herding them towards his ship. Distracted by the cattle, Heracles was unaware that he had been spotted by Geryon himself. Hearing a shout of rage from behind him that would break the spirit of lesser men, the hero turned at the last moment to a terrifying sight. Geryon was no normal, mortal man. A monster, triple bodied and triple headed, and fully armed and armoured, Geryon was a formidable opponent. With three spears and three shields flurrying, Geryon engaged Heracles in a fierce struggle. Unable to land a blow upon the monster, Heracles struggled to defend himself. Casting aside his club in desperation, Heracles took out his bow. As Geryon charged forward, Heracles ripped back his bowstring with all the strength his divine sinews could muster, and loosed an arrow. Flying with overpowering momentum, Heracles fired the arrow with such force that the tip bore straight through the metal, skin, bone and brain of one of Geryon's three heads. Even this alone would not have brought mighty Geryon down, but the lethal venom of the Hydra which impregnated the iron tip of Heracles' arrow coursed through Geryon's body, strangling the life out of him. Shaken by his ever closer brush with death, Heracles embarked upon the long voyage back to Tiryns.

The Garden of the Hesperides

Painting by Frederic Leighton.

Handing the cattle over to Eurystheus, the son of Zeus stood eagerly to hear his penultimate task. Having served Eurystheus for eight long years now, the end was in sight. Ten incredible tasks had been completed, but Eurystheus had rendered the slaying of the Hydra and the cleaning of the Augeian stables void, and as punishment, had conceived two special tasks as the final tests of the hero. It was time for the son of Zeus to rise above the tasks of mortals now, and prove himself in the immortal plain. For the first of these two Labours, King Eurystheus ordered Heracles to bring him the Golden Apples of the Hesperides. The tree on which the Apples grew lay far away in the Garden of the Hesperides, a tranquil land ruled over by the Hesperides, nymphs who were the daughters of the Atlas, one of the Titans who had fought against Zeus in the War of the Titans (for this climactic struggle, please click here).The Golden Apples had been presented by Gaia, Mother Earth herself, at the marriage of Zeus and Hera untold milennia ago. To pick the Apples would truly demonstrate immortal favour. Venturing forth from Tiryns, Heracles travelled far and wide, yearning for the knowledge of the Garden's whereabouts. Guided by the nymphs, Heracles came across Nereus, the Old Man of the Sea, a shapeshifting Titan, and a son of Gaia. Seizing Nereus, Heracles held on tight whilst the Titan changed forms repeatedly, becoming all manner of nightmarish creatures. Binding him tightly, Heracles refused to release him until he revealed the Garden's location. Impressed at Heracles endurance, Nereus revealed that the daughters of Atlas tended the Garden of the Hesperides in the far West (Hence the name of the mountain range in North West Africa). Eventually coming to the garden, Heracles saw the magnificent tree in the distance of the serene paradise. However, tightly coiled around the trunk was a large and monstrous dragon, Ladon, immortal, invulnerable, never sleeping and always watchful from each of its one hundred heads. Ladon, another of the vile brood of Typhon and Echidna, had been placed in the Garden by Hera to ensure that none could ever steal the Apples. Realising for the first time that he had encountered a creature he could not stand against, Heracles began a long search for some other way.

In his frustrated wanderings, Heracles came to a great mountain, upon which was bound one of the Titans, one tortured by an eagle which gnawed at his liver - Prometheus (for his story, please click here). Pitying towering Prometheus, Heracles slew the eagle with one of his poisoned arrows, and released the Titan from his shackles. The greatful Titan, ever striving to assist mankind, advised Heracles to seek out his brother Atlas to obtain the Apples for him. Journeying into the very boundaries of existence, Heracles came before Atlas. The Titan, who had sided against Zeus in the war for the mastery of the Heavens, was punished to bear the weight of Heaven upon his shoulders for all eternity. Heracles asked Atlas permission to take the Apples from his daughters' Garden. The Titan agreed, and offered to pick them himself, in return for Heracles taking the weight of the Heavens for a short time. This he did, and towering Atlas set forth, whilst Heracles struggled under the mighty weight of Heaven upon his shoulders. Atlas soon returned with the Apples. Having no intention of enduring his punishment any longer, Atlas declared he would take the Apples to Eurystheus himself. Panicking, Heracles quickly conceived a desperate plan. Pretending to agree, Heracles asked if Atlas would take the weight briefly so as to allow him to prepare a pad to ease his shoulder when he took it back again. This seemed reasonable to the Titan, and he agreed. As the mighty Titan took up his colossal burden once more, Heracles quickly seized the Apples and made his escape, to the fury of Atlas.

Returning all the way to the powerful citadel of Tiryns, Heracles presented the shining Apples to Eurystheus. The King was overwhelmed by the sight of the gift, returning them to Heracles, worthy of the prize was he. No sooner had he done so, however, than Athena came down from Olympus, and retrieved the Apples, for they were too pure to reside anywhere than in the tranquil Garden. His resentment turning to reverence, Eurystheus turned to his final request, the last and most dangerous Labour of Hercules. If the hero completed this, then he would fulfil his ultimate desire, and earn his place among the gods...

Wednesday, 17 August 2011

We return today to the story of Paradise Lost, and the story of how Satan, once the brightest of the Archangels of Heaven, foiled in open rebellion against God, turned to other means to topple the Highest Throne (for the previous episode of this saga, please click here). Recalling an ancient prophecy they once heard as loyal Seraphim in Heaven, the Fallen Angels resolved to seek out and corrupt God's new creation - Man. With no other brave enough to walk the path of the abyss, and break out from the confines of Hell, Satan himself volunteers to carry out this dark deed, to tumultuous applause.

Satan confronts Sin and Death

Engraving by Gustave Doré

Leaving the gathered Fallen Angels to explore the dank depths of their infernal new prison, Satan takes flight through the endless reaches of Hell. Passing over the fire, mountains and sorrowful dales which are to one day be home to the cruellest of men and most savage of beasts, proud Satan soars to the summit of his new domain, bent on vengeance against the Most High. Reaching the boundaries of the Accursed Pit, the Morning Star finds his way blocked by thrice threefold gates, three of brass, three of iron and three of adamantine, all wreathed in fire. Before the gateway, however, stood two figures. On one side stood what seemed a woman to the waist, yet ending in a serpent's coils, with demonic hounds snapping at from her chest. The other was a shape, yet also shapeless, a shadow black as the Night, yet bearing a crown upon its head. The dark creature and Satan approached one another, as Hell itself trembled with each stride. Satan warns the being to back down, that nothing will stand in his way, that nothing can stand before the Spirits of Heaven. The dark creature, dauntless, replied:

" Art thou that traitor angel, art thou He who first broke

peace in Heav'n and faith, till then unbroken? "

- DEATH CONFRONTS SATAN

Roused to indignation by the grisly creature's challenge, Satan raised his spear, driven to battle rage. So too did the ghastly being, both terrible spirits poised to strike. Just then, the creature's companion called out in anguish, chastising Satan for daring to strike his own son. Bemused, Satan demands she explain her charge, for he has no son. Saddened, the monstrous lady reveals herself to be his daughter too, that at the moment of Satan's rebellion against God, she was born, fully armed, from his head. Alarmed at her sight, the loyal angels of Heaven gave her the name Sin, born a living incarnation of Satan's pride. As the glorious plains of Heaven turned to war, she writhed in the pangs of childbirth, and a son was born of her and Satan's dark deeds, the grim shadow he now confronts. For he is Death himself, a name Hell fears to speak. Sin's existence is one of endless pain, as fearsome demons claw their way from her womb, the Furies, spirits which will one day pursue and torture the minds of murderers. Softened by her words, Satan demands passage out of Hell, pledging to regain Paradise once more, and honour her in the lush fields of Heaven. She relents, and brandishes the keys to the nine doors. Death, all powerful, who senses what is to come, smiled wide, as his ravenous hunger yearns for the souls of men.

Omniscient Chaos

Engraving by Gustave Doré

Passing through the mouth of Hell, Satan passes into the realm of Chaos, a world between worlds. Above an endless ocean endless anarchy plays out. Here in the days when the cosmos are beginning to come into existence, the elements strive for mastery amid confused screams. Undaunted, the Morning Star soars through the dark desert realm to the thrones of the spirits of Chaos, lord of this world, Night, his consort, Rumour and Chance, Tumult and Discord all bawling with a thousand mouths. Turning to Chaos, Satan boldly states his purpose, vowing passage through this realm, which borders on the Heavenly cosmos. Satan's reputation is already legend even here, Chaos replies in confused speech, all here know of the defiant stand against God. It was through this dimension that the Fallen Angels fell when cast from the gates of Heaven. Go forth, Chaos bids the Fallen One, for "Havoc and spoil and ruin are my gain". Relentless, Satan takes flight, rising through the warring elements, the ancestors of Nature, the endless abyss far below. Feeling old energy in his wings, Satan reaches the boundaries of the Heavenly realm, where Chaos begins to weaken and order prevails. Satan, triumphant, has broken free of Hell.

Far beyond, upon the Highest throne, the Lord in his radiant glory sees the Fallen Archangel borne on wings toward this world, and points him out to the Son who sits at his right side. Omnipotent, God sees Satan's dark designs, foretelling with sorrow the coming perversion of man. But the Lord is irresolute, he has granted by the laws of Heaven free will to man, and none shall be denied his grace. For Satan fell of his own malice, but men will fall from Satan's seduction. What grace is there in praise from slavish obedience, compared with the prayers of free mortals? The Son turns to the Father in admiration of his grace, yet troubled. Must the Adversary be allowed to corrupt mankind unhindered? Must he take the human race entirely down to Hell? Never shall man be lost, the Lord replies, never shall repentance be in vain. For within all men the spirit of the Lord will be bound, and those who heed it will find Paradise, and all who scorn it will find no mercy. Satan has brought Death to the cosmos, and only upon Death will man be redeemed. The Heavenly host stood silent, but moved by pity, the Son offers himself in their place:

" Behold me then, me for him, life for life

I offer, on me let thine anger fall;

Account me man; I for his sake will leave

Thy bosom, and this glory next to thee

Freely put off, and for him lastly die... "

- THE SON OFFERS HIMSELF IN PLACE OF MAN

Death will never hold him for long, he declares, as Heaven will triumph over Death in the end, and at the end of times, graves will open, the dead shall be summoned forth, and man will be judged by Him, and the multitude of the redeemed shall march unto Heaven. Not a spirit in Heaven stood unmoved with admiration at these words, as even the Lord looked fondly upon his Son. The full power of Heaven will be in Him, and the Lord, God commands, until the day comes when the King of Heaven needs his royal sceptre no more. Heaven was given over to joy as the angelic host began to sing in exultation.

Satan looks down upon the Garden of Eden

Engraving by Gustave Doré

Far below, the sounds of joy fell deaf on the mind of Satan, gliding through the ethereal plain. Seeing vast orbs hang in the cosmos, Satan soars through the outer reaches of the Universe, searching for the World of Men. Powering beyond the realm of Limbo, and past the stairs to Heaven, Satan passes the stars, eventually coming to rest upon the brilliant glare of the orb men would one day call the Sun. Gazing upon the newly born Universe, Satan spots a glorious angel in the distance, a spirit whose pure back was turned. Conceiving a daring plan, Satan cast aside his dread visage, assuming the persona of a bright angel of Heaven, something of his former light. Drawing before the angel, Satan recognises the spirit as Uriel, one of the Seven Archangels of Heaven, and once his comrade in the days before his rebellion. Uriel greeted the stranger, unawares of his dark nature. Satan greeted Uriel, and spoke of reverence for God's grace, and his desire to honour his new creation, praising the hosts of Heaven. Bowing, he asked of the whereabouts of the World of Men, so that he might pay homage to the blessed race. Deceived, Uriel welcomed the Cherub before him, inviting him to rejoice with him, beckoning at the World in the distance, where even now Adam strode in the Garden. Eyes glinting with malice, Satan bowed low to Uriel, and sped forth with all speed to the world before him, leaving the archangel unaware of the grave danger he had unknowingly unleashed. Coming to rest upon Mount Niphates, Satan looked down in triumph upon the Garden of Eden, ready to unleash an eternity of agony upon the first Man...

Wednesday, 3 August 2011

Heracles was well on his way to proving himself more than just a man when he had completed his fifth gruelling task, his Fifth Labour. Desperate to earn forgiveness, he had slain the Nemean Lion, the Lernaean Hydra, captured the swift Ceryneian Hind and the fierce Erymanthian Boar, and cleaned the ghastly stables of King Augeias (for the previous episode, click here). But, to his anguish, the slaying of the Hydra and the cleaning of the stables had been rendered void by King Eurystheus, on account of the help and payment Heracles had received, though in reality an expression of Eurystheus' envy of the hero's prowess.

Lake Stymphalis

Photograph taken by Ulrich Tichy.

Heracles was furious, believing himself to be halfway to the Tenth Labour, finding he still had another seven to go. But there was little time to spare. Much needed to be done. Fresh reports reached the towering citadel of Tiryns of foul creatures of the abyss terrorising the peoples of Greece. King Eurystheus ordered the son of Zeus to set off for the Lake by the city of Stymphalos, not far away on Arcadia, and kill the birds which had taken up residence there. Believing this a strangely easy sounding task, Heracles set off from mighty Tiryns, soon arriving at Lake Stymphalis. Hearing reports that the birds lurked within a great forest by the water's edge, the hero made ready to slay them. However, these were no ordinary birds. For the Stymphalian Birds were sacred to Ares, the god of war, and were fierce creatures. Possessing beaks and talons made of solid bronze, the Stymphalian Birds were flesh eaters, and their droppings were also toxic to living things. The Birds had been terrorising the people of Stymphalos, decimating their cattle, and feasting on its citizens. Furthermore, the Birds roosted within a swamp, which Heracles soon discovered would not support his weight. Just as Heracles began to think the task impossible, the goddess Athena came before him, taking pity on his plight. Giving him a strange kind of rattle, forged by the god Hephaestus himself, the goddess of wisdom told the hero of another of the Birds' many features - they had extremely sensitive hearing. As the goddess departed, Heracles formed a daring plan. The next dawn, the hero climbed a mountain by the Lake and strung his bow. Taking up the castanet, Heracles rattled it with all his strength, creating a thunderous racket. Screeching in agony, the Stymphalian Birds took flight, right into Heracles' sights. Loosing his arrows, tainted as they were with the fiery poison of the Hydra, Heracles soon brought the Birds down. Delighted, Heracles returned to Tiryns, and was careful not to mention his divine assistance this time.

Heracles and the Cretan Bull

Mosaic in the National Archaeological Museum of Spain, Madrid.

Irate once again that Heracles still lived, Eurystheus decided against ordering the hero to slay the next beast, but to drag it all the way to Tiryns before him. Sending Heracles to the domain of King Minos away on the Isle of Crete, Eurystheus commanded him to bring to him the monstrous Cretan Bull. Once again, Heracles set forth from Tiryns, crossing the Ocean to Crete. King Minos received Heracles eagerly, for the Cretan Bull was ravaging the countryside, laying waste to all in its path. The Bull, it transpired, was the divine retribution exacted upon the King for his blasphemy. Some time before, King Minos, thrilled with his domains and grateful to the gods for their blessings, vowed to sacrifice whatever creature should come from the sea to Poseidon, lord of the Oceans. Hearing this vow, Poseidon sent forth from the depths of the Ocean a mighty white Bull. Utterly bemused at the sight of the Bull breaking from the surf, Minos was stunned by the beauty and elegance of the docile and noble creature. So entranced was he, the King forgot his promise to Poseidon, and sent it to join the rest of his many herds on the island, sacrificing another, lesser beast in its place. But Poseidon was angered that Minos had broken his oath. Moving his hand over the Bull, the god sent a consuming madness into the mind of the Bull, causing it to thrash in a beserk rage. Pleading with Heracles to aid him, Minos offered all the support the hero might need. Heracles declined, vowing to take the Bull alone, lest he once again rail in failure on his return. Confronting the mighty Bull in the mountains of Crete, Heracles wrestled the monster. Man and beast struggling for an age, Heracles at last managed to get a hold on one of the Bull's horns, and its jaw. Grappling with the beast all the way to the shore, Minos looked on, rejoicing at the hero's great strength. Restraining the creature on his ship, Heracles herded the Cretan Bull all the way to the Palace at Tiryns, where Eurystheus capitulated and declared the Labour a success. The Labour complete, Heracles released the Bull, which charged off into the countryside, eventually coming to the land of Attica, terrorising its peoples around Marathon. But the arrogance of the Athenians was something all other Greeks gladly saw punished, and Eurystheus was content. Indeed the Cretan Bull would one day father the Minotaur, the bane of the Athenians...

The Mares devour Diomedes

Painting by Gustave Moreau.

For his next task, King Eurystheus bade Heracles go forth and bring to him the Mares of King Diomedes of the Bistones. Since the Bistones were a highly aggressive Thracian tribe, Eurystheus did allow Heracles to take a company of armed men with him this time, as long as the hero simply brought back the horses. Thinking this oddly reasonable, Heracles once again left mighty walled Tiryns, venturing north to the wild lands of Thrace. Ambushed almost immediately, Heracles and his warriors were caught unawares. Fierce though the Bistones were, the Mares they rode were towering creatures, powerful and strong. With the might of Heracles' strength, however, the hero and his companions managed to repel them, just. Coming across the mangers where the Mares were tethered, Heracles and his good friend Abderus overpowered the guards and led the Mares back toward the coast. The Bistones, however, soon discovered the theft, and set off in hot pursuit. Leaving Abderus to guard the Mares, Heracles charged the warriors, who were now led by their fearsome King, Diomedes, the son of Ares himself. Fierce though the Bistones were, the son of Zeus threw them back again and again, until only he and the towering King were left. After a titanic struggle, Heracles made a prisoner of Diomedes, deciding to lead him back to Eurystheus too, as an added gift. However, coming back to the Mares, he saw the animals standing there, but Abderus was nowhere to be seen. Spotting that the mouths of the Mares were spattered with blood, and a few crunched bones at their feet, however, Heracles suddenly realised a terrible truth of the Mares which Eurystheus had neglected to mention. The Mares were carnivorous. Driven into a rage with grief, Heracles hurled Diomedes at the Mares, who proceeded to devour their master. Only when sated with human flesh were the beasts calm once again. Seizing his chance, Heracles tied the strongest bonds around their jaws, binding them tightly shut.

Leading them all the way back to strong walled Tiryns, Heracles presented the beasts to Eurystheus. Impressed, Eurystheus agreed that Heracles had completed his Labour fairly, and offered the Mares as a sacrifice to Hera. Realising that Heracles was more than a man, the King, knowing he had only four Labours left to give, began to conceive ever more daring tasks for the son of Zeus...